What are cognitive distortions? Cognitive distortions can be considered slips in our thinking that we all make at times. They are a derivative of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The main premise behind them is that your thoughts have an enormous impact on your emotions and the way you are feeling. So, if you are feeling terrible, there is a big chance that you are thinking in an unhelpful way. These unhelpful thinking styles cause us to jump to incorrect conclusions, make incorrect assumptions, and much more.
Ten main cognitive distortions cause us to feel bad about ourselves, others, and situations/circumstances. Throughout my next five blog posts, I will introduce and explain these cognitive distortions as well as provide you with a way to overcome and avoid them. I will incorporate two into my blog posts a day for my next five blog posts.
All or nothing (black and white) thinking is an extreme type of thinking that often leads to extreme emotions and behaviors. When we utilize this unhealthy thinking style, we see things on the extreme ends of a spectrum. For example, either you view yourself as perfect or as a failure. There is no in-between! Another example is either you are depressed, or you are on top of the world. Again, there is no in-between.
Unfortunately, it is very easy to fall into this type of thinking. Here, I will use a situational example. Imagine that you have decided that you are no longer going to consume alcohol or other drugs. You are doing well for two weeks and end up giving in and drinking a beer. All or nothing thinking would lead you to presume that this is it and that you should just go back to drinking alcohol and doing other drugs.
To overcome this cognitive distortion, you can utilize a strategy known as “both-and reasoning.” By thinking this way, you are better able to reason with yourself mentally. Specifically, you can allow yourself to realize that two seemingly opposite things can exist together. You can both succeed in your goal to ultimately remain sober and have a slip-up or two. (I am not saying that drinking alcohol or doing other drugs is a good idea when you are seeking sobriety, but if you do have a slip-up, it is not the end. You can recover!)
Mental filtering occurs when we focus solely on the negative aspects of situations without considering the positive aspects. When this happens, our current circumstances can be completely fulfilled with a single negative detail. For example, you believe you are a failure, so your natural tendency is to focus on the mistakes you have made and not consider your success or accomplishments. Building on our previous cognitive distortion, another example would be focusing only on the fact that you drank that beer. Not considering that you were able to remain sober for two weeks.
To overcome this cognitive distortion, you should take time to really collect FACTUAL evidence that contradicts what you are feeling down about. When doing this, make sure that you are not looking at the situation using that same negative lens that resulted in you feeling this way. Look at the evidence through the lens of “I am not a failure.”
Another example that might be salient at this time is considering the facts about your current situation related to the Corona Virus (CVOID-19). Are you healthy? Is your family healthy? Are you doing everything you can to ensure that you all remain safe? Am I alone in this situation? Answer those questions. Those are all facts! Today you can avoid cognitive distortions (“all or nothing” & “filtering”)!
(Photo by Cody Fitzgerald)
